Latest news with #Goularte
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Velasquez Victims Demand $1 Million In Restitution
Cain Velasquez is already behind bars, but his legal troubles are far from over. The former UFC heavyweight champion will face a restitution hearing in June, where the court will decide a financial penalty. The original date was postponed after opposing attorneys submitted an 'unreasonable' request for compensation. Advertisement That's according to a report from MMA Fighting. 'The victims in this case are seeking an exorbitant amount of money,' Velasquez's attorney, Renee Hessling, told the judge. 'The defense's position is that it's unreasonable, so we do intend on litigating this.' 'I think there is definitely restitution owed by Mr. Velasquez,' Hessling continued. 'However, there are some claims that he owes money for their daycare, and they are asking for $1 million on that end. That is certainly something we are litigating.' Velasquez, 42, received a five-year sentence in the 2022 shooting of accused child molester Harry Goularte, who faces his own trial in June. Goularte narrowly escaped injury when Velasquez opened fire on city streets, wounding Goularte's passenger in the melee. Advertisement The future Dirty Boxer could be paroled as early as March 2026. More from
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
MMA star Cain Velasquez transferred to Soledad prison
(KRON) — Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was recently transferred to a prison in Monterey County to continue serving his sentence. The 42-year-old MMA star was sent from Wasco State Prison near Bakersfield, Calif., to Correctional Training Facility prison in Soledad, Calif., according to state inmate records. A California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesperson told KRON4 Thursday, 'Wasco State Prison is a reception center, where incarcerated people are processed and temporarily housed before they are transferred to a more permanent location.' Velasquez is serving time behind bars for attempting to murder Harry Goularte, 46. Goularte is charged with molesting Velasquez's 4-year-old child at a daycare. Motivated by a 'blind rage for vengeance,' prosecutors said, Velasquez took the law into his own hands on Feb. 28, 2022 when he chased Goularte's pickup truck from Morgan Hill to San Jose. Velasquez fired a gun during the chase, sprayed the truck with bullets, and shot Goularte's stepfather. Last month, a judge gave Velasquez the minimum possible prison sentence — five years — for attempted murder. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra became teary-eyed and emotionally choked up when he handed down the sentence. While Velasquez was the offender for the attempted murder case, the MMA star's family was also the victim in the child molestation case, Bocanegra emphasized. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The judge said, 'This is a tragic case. Mr. Velasquez is not a danger to public safety.' Velasquez expressed remorse, telling the judge, 'I am truly sorry. My actions were reckless. I am ashamed and regretful for how I handled myself.' Cain Velasquez speaks out before his sentencing hearing Velasquez spent his last few months of freedom working as an MMA and Jiu Jitsu coach around the Bay Area, spending time with his children, and appearing with a nonprofit, Chokeout Cancer, at children's hospitals to visit young patients who are battling cancer. Despite a 5-year sentence, the UFC champ may be freed from prison next year. He received credit for 1,283 days served, which will cut his time behind bars down to about 1.5 years. His first parole hearing is scheduled for March 2026. Goularte's felony child molestation trial is scheduled to begin on June 2 and he remains out of custody. He has pleaded not guilty to committing lewd acts with a minor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cain Velasquez transferred to Wasco State Prison, parole eligibility date set
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has made his first move into the California prison system after his conviction and sentencing following a no-contest plea on multiple charges including attempted murder. Velasquez was handed a five-year sentence following his conviction, and he's currently being housed at Wasco State Prison just outside Bakersfield, Calif. The prison sits just over three hours away from Velasquez's home in San Jose, but Wasco is a set up as a reception center before inmates are transferred to longterm housing at a different facility. Wasco is used to process, classify, and evaluate new inmates both physically and mentally to determine a security level for housing before being transferred to one of California's primary prison facilities like San Quentin or Folsom State Prison. Based on the terms of his sentencing, Velasquez comes eligible for parole for the first time in March 2026, but that date could change based on the retired UFC heavyweight knocking off additional time for good behavior, participation in certain prison programs, etc. While Velasquez was issued a five-year sentence he immediately had three-plus years knocked off due to time already served after he spent eight months behind bars following his initial arrest when he was denied bail several times. When Velasquez was eventually released, he was placed under house arrest and wore an ankle monitor so that time was also removed from his sentence. Unless something dramatically changes, Velasquez could potentially go home as early as March 2026. Velasquez was convicted after he engaged in an 11-mile, high speed chase going after a car containing Harry Goularte, who is accused of molesting Velasquez's son at a daycare owned by his mother. Goularte faces charges of his own related to that case, but he was released from custody against the advice of the prosecution. Velasquez fired several rounds from a handgun at the car but ultimately it was Goularte's stepfather Paul Bender who ended up being shot while sustaining non-life threatening injuries. Velasquez was eventually arrested without incident and hit with a multitude of charges, including attempted murder. The next court date for Velasquez comes on April 16 when he faces restitution for his crimes, which is where a judge issues a financial penalty that is due to the victims in the case. Restitution can include lost wages, medical costs, therapy and counseling and even insurance deductibles. More from Michael Chandler addresses cheating accusations ahead of UFC 314 fight with Paddy Pimblett Javier Mendez says Merab Dvalishvili 'showboated his way to winning' against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 'Fire that judge on sight': Pros react to bizarre scorecard in Torrez Finney win at UFC Vegas 105 Dana White shares gruesome photo of Daniel Frunza's torn lip following UFC Vegas 105 loss Henry Cejudo describes crazy confrontation with man who crashed car in house, assaulted neighbor Josh Emmett believes Ilia Topuria could struggle against bigger lightweights: 'They could definitely give him problems' Mark Kerr biopic 'The Smashing Machine' with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson sets release date
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Cain Velasquez's rep breaks silence for UFC star following prison verdict: 'Every family's worst nightmare'
Cain Velasquez's three-year wait to learn his fate ended Monday when the former two-time UFC heavyweight champion was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder and other charges stemming from a 2022 attempted shooting of Harry Goularte, the man accused of molesting Velasquez's then 4-year-old son on 'multiple occasions." Velasquez, 42, faced 10 felony charges after engaging in an 11-mile high-speed car chase with Goularte and firing several shots through his windshield from a .40-caliber handgun into a car carrying Goularte, Goularte's mother and Goularte's stepfather, Paul Bender, the latter of whom suffered non-life threatening injuries due to a gunshot wound to his arm. Velasquez's prison sentence included time served, which should limit the time he spends locked away; Velasquez spent nearly one year incarcerated following the 2022 incident as well as nearly two years on house arrest with an ankle monitor. Goularte currently awaits his own June 2 trial date after pleading not guilty to one charge of lewd acts with a minor. Velasquez's family has also filed a separate civil lawsuit against the Goularte family and their businesses; Goularte's mother ran the daycare where the alleged molestation happened. Velasquez's case has been the subject of intense debate and scrutiny over the past three years due to the sensitive details involved and the former champ's status as a much-loved figure within the sport. Unsurprisingly, the MMA world rallied to Velasquez's defense en masse following Monday's verdict. On Wednesday, Velasquez's longtime agent Mike Fonseca issued the first statement from Team Velasquez to Uncrowned, speaking on the trial's outcome and the journey to reach this point: Monday was a day full of mixed emotions but we finally have closure after what has been a challenging, frustrating and heartbreaking last three years. What Cain and his family have gone through, is every family's worst nightmare. I've sadly learned more than I ever wanted to know about child sexual abuse, and the cruel realities of a broken legislative system as well as a complex justice system. I have seen firsthand the stress and the trauma that any one of these sequence of events can have not just on our families, but the communities we live in. But above all else, I've learned about what it truly means to be a man of great character, integrity and conviction. Cain has always been a gentle giant, one of the kindest and sweetest men I've ever known. What he has been through and more importantly how he has handled the consequences of his actions is a lesson in honor. Cain never once made excuses. To the contrary; he stood up and was immediately accountable for his actions, asking for forgiveness and praying for healing for the victims, his family, friends and the community at large. None of us will ever know firsthand what Cain has lived through. He started with nothing as a Mexican-American son of farm workers, and persevered to become one of the greatest UFC champions of all time. Along the way, Cain suffered plenty of trauma — both physically and mentally — but never sought the spotlight nor the fame nor the money. Love, family and integrity remained his guiding light. Today he is at peace with life. Nothing makes Cain happier than the ability to help others. My hope is we can find some solace in what Cain regrettably did, the impact that had on so many lives, the responsibility he took for those actions and what he will do to make the world a better place when he returns home. But for today, hug your child or your loved ones just a little longer in honor of our beloved friend Cain. Velasquez (14-3) is one of the most decorated heavyweights in UFC history. He first won the heavyweight title in 2010 with a knockout of Brock Lesnar, then captured the belt for a second time in 2012 with a dominant win over the man who ended his initial reign, Junior dos Santos. A prodigious talent whose career was often derailed by injuries, Velasquez twice defended his title — over Antonio Silva and in a trilogy bout against dos Santos — before suffering a 2015 upset loss to Fabricio Werdum. Velasquez only fought twice more, once in 2016 and once in 2019, before hanging up his four-ounce gloves for good.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-ASU wrestling star and UFC champ Cain Velasquez gets 5 years for vigilante shooting
Former UFC heavyweight champion and Arizona State University All-American wrestler Cain Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison for a 2022 vigilante shooting in San Jose, California, according to the Los Angeles Times. Velasquez, who was raised in Yuma, was arrested that year on 10 felony charges, including attempted murder, premeditated attempted murder and weapons charges, after chasing and shooting at a car carrying Harry Goularte, who was accused of molesting Velasquez's 4-year-old son. Goularte's stepfather, who was also in the car, was struck by gunfire and suffered an arm injury but survived, the Los Angeles Times reported. Velasquez pleaded no contest in August, and the premeditated attempted murder charge, which carried a potential life sentence, was dropped. After sentencing Velasquez to five years in prison on March 24, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra credited him with three years served, including nearly a year in jail and almost two years under house arrest, according to MMA Junkie. Goularte's mother, Patricia Goularte, was present for Velasquez's sentencing, MMA Junkie reported. She runs the daycare where prosecutors said that Velasquez's son was abused by Goularte. Patricia Goularte argued that Velasquez's sentence was influenced by the charges her son faces and that they intend to prove his innocence, MMA Junkie said. Goularte's Santa Clara trial was scheduled to begin in June. He faces one felony charge of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former ASU wrestler Cain Velasquez sentenced in attempted murder case
